If you think back over the past few years you will probably not find anything that has created such a buzz like 3D printers. These devices are like something out of a science fiction movie. They are able to take raw materials and literally print out three-dimensional objects. They have the potential to greatly change everyday living.

Medical advances have been made using these machines. Human body parts can now be fabricated from metal, plastic or actual tissues. This can have a great impact on health care and help a lot of individuals. Not only are bones and cartilage being created with these machines, it is also possible to print organs.

This technology is also very exciting for those in the exploration of space. It means that with the right materials astronauts will be able to create tools and replacement parts on demand. If something breaks down it would be a lot quicker and safer to print the replacement piece so the repair can be made that it would be to wait for help to arrive. This technology could also use robots to create a ready to use habitat for humans on other planets.

These printers use an image that is put into the machine for replication. It will repeatedly laid down one line after another and create the object from the bottom to the top. There are even units available for homeowners at the cost of around $1500. As you can see they cost more than just a regular printer, but they do so much more than your average inkjet.

Our society may reap many benefits in the fields of medicine and the sciences. Already we have seen that it is possible to replace simple body parts, but as the technology develops we will see much more intricate creations so that we can do things once thought unimaginable. For homeowners it means fewer trips to the store to purchase items. If something breaks they could just print off a replacement without leaving home.

At the current time home three-dimensional printing is in its novelty stages. Once it becomes more common there may be changes in the way the average family handles a need. Instead of going to the store to get an item, a family member may purchase and download a pattern to print whatever it is they need.

3D printers and the technology that has created them will grow over the next several years and will create thousands of jobs. The technology must be learned and new skills developed so it will have a broad impact on our society. The average individual may not see a need for it right now; however that is what most people thought about television.